In recent days, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania shows clear signs of making a second run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.

Despite fundraising problems, despite being dismissed by many political experts early in2012, Santorum placed second in the Republican primaries behind Mitt Romney. Rallying social conservatives to his banner, Santorum took almost 4 million votes (more than 20 percent of all ballots cast) and won 11 primaries and caucuses, including edging Romney by 34 votes in Iowa.

While most eyes are on former Gov. Charlie Crist and former state CFO Alex Sink, Nan Rich, who served more than a decade in the Florida Legislature where she eventually rose to lead Senate Democrats, is the only active major Democratic gubernatorial candidate so far in the 2014 race.

Rich might have a head start on her Democratic rivals but, as her paltry fundraising and poor polling show, she is not picking up much steam.

Possible Democratic gubernatorial candidates this week closed the door on challenging Gov. Rick Scott in 2014, leaving more room for former Gov. Charlie Crist.

With Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll resigning her position in the fallout of a federal investigation into an Internet cafe company she represented, speculation has turned to who Gov. Rick Scott will tap to replace her.

Mired in the polls, Scotts choice offers him a chance to politically rebound. While Carroll, the first African-American Republican to serve in the Legislature, made sense for Scott as a running mate in 2010, her chances to be his running mate in 2014 faded after a tumultuous two years.